Automatic animal thap



Sept. 4, 1928.

A. M. HAYMAKER AUTOMATIC ANIMAL TRAP Filed Jan. 8, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Javento@ atto@ waq Septt 4, 1928.

ALM. HAYMAKER AUTOMATIC ANIMAL TRAP Filed Jah 8. 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheety 2 Patented Sept. 4, 1928.

UNITEDv STATES ARTHUR M.` HAYMAKER, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC ANIMAL TRAP.

Application led January 8, 1927. Serial No. 159,841.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automatic animal traps.

The primaryv object of this invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensively manufactured trap which will be automatic in its action from the enticing, entrapping and extermination of an animal to the resetting forfurther use. 0

A further important object of the invention is the provision of improved entrapping means which possesses novel features of. construction in that it Vwill not trip until .an animal has reached a predetermined location with respect to the same and wherein the retreat of the animal is prevented by the inclusion of the portion of the structure, over which the animal has approached said predetermined point, in the entrapping structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for making the re-setting of the entrapping mechanism automatic in its action. k

Other objects and advantages of the inven- 25 tion will be apparent during the course of the following description:

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like 4parts throughout the saine, t

H Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the trap embodying this invention,

Figure 2 is atop plan view of the trap embodying this invention,

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the trap, y t

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 1 4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a `horizontal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 4f,

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Figure 4, and

Figure 8 is a detail enlarged view showing the entrapping mechanism.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 10 designates a box or receptacle which forms the base of the trap and which may be made of metal, or other suitable material7 and which is intended. to receive an animal exterminating fluid, such as water. The open Atop of this vboit or receptacle-10 is closed byaiiii'ver liliaving suitably termed there* with or mounted thereon a double ended tunnel 12. This tunnel. at its intermediate portion, is provided with a hollow throat open at its top and closed by the removable cap 1li. Surrounding the double ended tunnel 12,\the cover 11 is provided with'the 4 and 5 clearly show that -the floor 15,`the

throat 13 with its cap 14 and the wire mesh partitions 16 form the bait box common to both ends of the double ended tunnel structure 12 and that the wire mesh partition 16 will permit an animal to view the bait from either end of the tunnel.

Between the bait box and each open end 12n of the tunnel, the floor of the latter is formed into an animal entrapping `mechanism which will precipitate an animal into the liquid containing box or receptacle 10. Figure 8 is an enlargement of one of these entrapping mechanisms and the features of the same will be described byreferring to this figure.

The entrapping mechanism includes what will be termed a primary door 17 pivoted on the fulcrum 18 and asecondary doorY 19 pivoted on the fulcrum 20. The adjacent end edges of these doors 17 and 19 are provided with a half joint 21. The features of this joint will be described atalater point. The outer ends of the doors 17 and 19 are provided with transversely extending weights 22 and 23. The marginal platform 11:L of the cover 11 is provided with an angular stop 24 functioning to determine theset or' operative position ot' the door 17. The bait box floor or platform 15 is provided with an angular stop 25 which determines the operative or normal position of the door 19. It will be seen that the doors 17 and 19 are normally positioned in planes which converge upwardly and that the distance between tlie fulcrums 1S and20 is less than the combined longitudinal dimensions of the doors 17 and 19 from `their fulcrum points to their free adjacent edges.

The hall.` joint 21 is so constructed that the transversely esti-aiding edge 26 will engage HNI 21 is cut away so that the edge 26 will noty bind on any portion of the same after being freed lfrom the edge Q7 by the independent downward movement of the door 19. The faces29 and 30 are spaced sothat there will never be any binding action `between the same,

It will 'be understood that inthe resetting of these doors 17 and 19 the door 17 `must close first' to permit the half jointI to return `to its operative position; For this reason,

the door 19 is provided at each side edge with a `guide arm 19a having a downwardly turned `free end and a base [lange 19h, whereby, the door' 17 will be forced to return to its set `position `first by its engagement with the yarms '193L and their base flanges.

It `new will be understood that as the weightof the animal is transferred 'from the door 17 tothe doors19 the latter willmove downwardly independently of the door 17 and the binding'between the edges 26 and27 will be discontinued. After the initial independent downward movement of the door' 19, both doors `willbe free'to pivot and allsupport for the animal will be'removed, whereby retreat to the tunnel entrance 12a will be prevented.

A Itis to'beunderstood that the Jform or this invention-herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same,

and that various changes inthe shape,size,`

and arrangenient'of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention or the scope'otl the subjoined claims. Y Having thus described the invention,V I claim:` Y i 1. In a device ofthe type described,`a base of receptacle form, va v'cover for the base, a tunnel carriedby the base, a bait box in the tunnel, an opening in `the cover within the tunnel "between the entrance for the tunnel and the rbait'box, `and cntrapping mechanism within the .confinesof the cover opening for precipitating an animal into the base, said mechanism including arpair of pivoted doors which engage each other at their adjacent edges to prevent pivoting while the weight of `an animal is entirely upon one of said doorsysaid door edges being freed from each otherfby the .transfer of the weight of the animal to the second door.

2. In a device of the type described, a base 'of receptacle formt a cover -tor the base, a

tunnelcarried bythe base, a bait box in the tunnel, anbpening :in :the cover within the tunnel between the entrance for the tunnel and the bait box, and entrappingmechanism within the confines of the cover opening for precipitating an animal into the base, said mechanism including a pair oi upwardly being disconnectedromeach other by the transier of theweight of the animal to the second door.

In a device ofthe type described7 a base of receptacle form,a cover for the base, a tunnel carried yby the base, a bait box in the tunnel, an opening vin the cover within the tunnel between the entrance for kthe tunnel and the bait box', entrapping mechanism within the coniines of the cover opene ing for precipitating an animal into the base, said mechanism including a pair. of upwardly converging, pivoted doors formed with a lap joint at their adjacent edges, `the combined lengths of the doors between their pivotal axes being greater thanthe distance between said axes whereby `the doors `will support each other by means of said lap joint to prevent pivoting while the weight or" an `animal is'en-tirely upon one of said doors, said doors being disconnected from each other by the transfer of the weight of the animal to the second door, and means for returning the doors to their set positions lin proper sequence.

1. In a device of the type described, a

base of receptacle form, a cover for the base, a tunnel carried by the base, a bait box-in the tunnel, an `opening in the cover within the tunnel between the entrance for the tunnel and the bait tbox, entrapping mechanism within the contines of the cover opening for precipitating an animal into the base, said mechanism including a pair of `upwardly converging7 pivotcd doors formed with a lap joint at their adjacent edges, the combined lengths of the vdoors between their pivotal axes being greater than `the distance between said axes `whereby' the doors will support each other by means `of said lap joint to prevent pivoting while the weight or an animal is entirely upon one ol said doors, said doors being disconnected from each other by the transfer of the `weight of the animal to the seconddoor, means for returning the doorsto their set positions in proper sequence, and means for determining the normal positions of the doors.

o. Ina .device of the type described, van animal entrapping mechanism. including a pair of pivoted doors which bind against each other at their adjacent edges to prevent pivoting while the weight of an animal is entirely upon one of said doors, said door' edges being freed from each other by the transfer of the Weight of the animal to the second door.

10 edges, the combined lengths of the doors Vbetween their pivotal axes being greater than the distance between said axes, whereby the doors will support each other by means of said lap joint to prevent pivoting while the weight of an animal is entirely upon one ol' said doors, said doors being disconnected from each other by the transfer of the weight of the animal to the second door.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ARTHUR M. HAYMAKER. 

